Spirit of Service :: Making a Change

Parents for Players

Youth soccer plays such a large part in all of our lives right now. If you’re reading this, the odds are good that you have a son or daughter (or perhaps several) playing club soccer. Trips to practice, trips from practice, the same for games – the toll on your time is often so great, it seems like nothing else matters.

In these difficult economic times, we often find it very challenging to figure out how to we can pay for it all. We oftentimes must make big sacrifices just to make ends meet. Here is a way in which to help supplement (and in some instances, fully pay for) those club soccer expenses. We’d like to introduce you some of the most effective fundraising available, for you and your child: Parents for Players!

Parents for Players (P4P) is a non-club specific organization made up of parents just like you looking to help offset the expenses related to your child’s club soccer – Expenses such as club dues, tournament fees, travel expenses for tournaments, etc.

Parents for Players is a partner with Levy Restaurants at the fantastic American Airlines Center. The largest events with the highest attendance – which means more sales for its partners and volunteers – are all at the AAC. Parents for Players provide volunteers to Levy for the purpose of staffing the concession stands in return for a percentage of the net sales.

We have opportunities to work Dallas Mavericks games, Dallas Stars games, concerts by some of the biggest entertainers and bands in the country, comedy shows and other special events. In essence, if the event is at the AAC, we have an opportunity for you!

With Parents for Players, your level of participation is entirely up to you. You can choose when you are able to devote time. There are usually numerous events every month and these events are year round. The proceeds of your efforts are applied directly to your child’s account with his or her select soccer club.

We currently have many volunteers in our group and would like to talk to you if you want to explore the fund raising opportunities available. If you’re interested in a great way to help pay for your child’s club soccer experience, here’s how to get started. Send an email to parentsforplayers@yahoo.com. Specify your name, contact information, child and their specific soccer team (i.e. Solar 02 girls, FCDallas Boys 04, etc.) and we’ll contact you to answer any questions you may have about how to be a part of this outstanding opportunity.

Thanks, and we look forward to hearing from you and seeing you at the AAC.

Misc Q&A

Volunteerrequests – prefer volunteers are available to sign up 3 times per month and they must be 18 years or older. Events are staffed year round and signup for events is provided through an on line scheduler.

Training – TABC, Responsible Alcohol Service, Food Handlers Certification – these are on line. Also required is one in-person training class at the AAC which is Levy/Creating Legends. Often times, this can be scheduled on the same day as the first event to be worked. In addition, the NHL and NBA now require all volunteers to pass a background check.

Structure – Parents for Players provides two stand leaders/managers (in each stand) that provide inventory and cash management for each event, and between 3-5 other volunteers in each stand.

Time involved – usually report time of 4:30 or 5PM and an ending time of 10 or 10:30 PM is generally the time frame; however, depending upon the event, report time can be earlier or later in each day.

Misc: Levy Restaurants provides concession management to AAC and overseas all stand assignments and menus. They provide not-for-profit organizations the opportunity to run specific concession stands and in turn, a percentage of the net sales are donated back to the sports team in the name of the player, to be used for expenses (i.e. dues, travel, uniforms, tournament entry fees, etc). Donations are issued monthly but special arrangements can be made.

Many of the volunteers work more than 3 events per month and they are rotated through each of the stands to become familiar with those stands that P4P has responsibility for.